Castanet



(No Model.)

0. P. WESTPHAL.

GASTANBT. No. 273,414. Patented M ar.6,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSCAR F. WESTPHAL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CASTAN ET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 273,414, dated March 6, 1888. Application filed July 18, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, OSCAR I VVESTPHAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Uastanet, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the hand of the player of castanets is' greatly relieved, and one in which.

less skill will be required to manipulate when compared with the ordinary fiat plates or bones now employed. I accomplish these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which represents in perspective a view of myimp roved castanet, which consists of a bifurcated frame, the arms of which are curved and have smooth fiat inner faces, a tongue and clapper being connected to the neck ot'said frame, within the arms, and adapted for operation as hereinafter more fully set forth.

I construct my frame A of any suitable material capable of giving off sound by contact, hard wood being preferable. The center of the tablet is cut out, as shown, and so as to form two flaring or curved arms, B B, having flat and smooth inner faces. In the neck of the tablet or frame 1 fix a permanent tongue, 0, made of a thin strip of whalebone, or other suitable material capable of assuming its original position when moved or vibrated. To the lower end of this tongue I attach a wooden clapper, D, which latter is split to receive the end of the tongue, and is slightly rounded in figure, as shown.

In operation the hand is made to grasp the neck of the frame between the thumb and iiideX-finger, when by movements of the hand the desired sounds are produced without interveution of the fingers, as in playing with the ordinary castanets. By this means no great amount of skill is required to operate the instrument, and but little weariness of the hand will be experienced in manipulating; it.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A castanet consisting of a frame provided with curved armshavingsnioothflatinnerfaces, in combination with a tongue and clapper connected to the neck of said frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 26th day of June, 1882.

OSCAR I WESTPHAL.

\Vitnesses:

O. W. M. SMITH, CHAS. E. KELLY. 

